2

"You can dance quite well" he praised Naya as they danced slowly to the rhythm of the music.

"Thanks" Naya chuckled nervously.

Roderick was her fated mate.

"I'm sure you know why I'm here?" He began, spinning Naya with his hands on her waist.

"I do" Naya blushed hard, he must have felt the spark too, that's why he approached her.

"Good," he shook his head.

"I don't want it" he said in a single breath and Naya felt her heart seize.

"You don't want what?" She stammered, unsure of what he meant by that.

she needed clarification.

"To be mates with you," he said out bluntly.

"Why?" Naya couldn't help but ask, all her dreams of having a mate had been shattered.

"Because I don't like you, Naya." He voiced out.

"Though you're the alpha's daughter and being mated with you is a privilege, I don't want you" he uttered with a note of finality.

From the way he spoke, it was clear that he did not want her, the way he stared at her, it made Naya's heartbreak to a million pieces.

"We can work things out " she muttered, the pain of losing one's mate was so unbearable, how would she cope?

"I don't think so Naya"

"I don't just want you" those words rolled out of Roderick tongue and Naya felt her heart sting.

"I have a girlfriend and I want to be with her"

"But we're mates" Naya's mouthed feeling her eyes water.

"True, but I don't want to be with a girl like you"

"You're weak Naya, you're only rubbing off your father's glory as the Alpha, nothing else"

"You're too soft, you're not like your sister, Naya " he stated and Naya inhaled sharply.

Zara and her were very different in personality, while she was quiet and reserved, Zara was the open person and she blended well with everyone in the pack, unlike her who was always seen seated at a corner.

"So I Roderick Rodriguez, reject you Naya Lowell as my fated mate" Naya felt a sharp sting in her heart as he said those words, she tried very hard to fight back her tears.

She has just been rejected.

"Enjoy the rest of your night" he bowed in courtesy, walking away from her on the dance floor.

Naya's feet became rooted to the ground, unable to move as the people stared at her, she had just been ditched on the dance floor.

Naya quickly made way to move, she didn't want Zara to see her like this.

She could see how happy Zara was with her mate Ralph. She didn't want to spoil their happy moments, because Zara would definitely come to her when she saw the state she was in, to check if everything was okay, so Naya quickly walked to a corner.

She fought hard to hide her tears while she watched her family enjoy the happy moments.

They all looked so happy, that she never wanted that joy to fade from their faces.

But her joy has faded away, just in one night, she has been rejected by her mate, all because he perceives her to be weak.

"Naya, what are you doing here all alone?" Someone asked from behind her and she turned to see her best friend, Bella.

"Bella, I didn't see you here" she mumbled, quickly comforting herself, before Bella would suspect a thing.

"How would you?" Bella laughed,

"When you were so busy dancing with that cutie, tell me what did Roderick tell you?" She motioned, tugging Bella's shoulders.

"Nothing"

"He just came to dance, that's all" Naya lied, she couldn't face the shame of being rejected by Roderick.

"Are you sure?"

"Hmm hmm"

"Tell me everything Naya, it's probably because he rejected you right" Bella said with a sneer and their eyes met.

"How did you…" Naya stammered, has Roderick been spreading the news?.

"Roderick told me, in fact I came to inform you of a good news"

"Roderick and I are dating," Bella informed as Naya froze.

"You're what!!" Naya squealed, hoping it wasn't what she was thinking about.

"We're dating," Bella confirmed.

"He's my mate Bella, " Nara drew out.

"Ex mate " Bella corrected with a triumphant look on her face.

"Don't tell me you have.."

"Oh yes, Naya I have, I've been fucking Roderick, I'm so sorry I wanted to tell you but" Bella pouted as her voice trailed off.

"Bella, you're my best friend," Naya yelled at the top of her voice.

"I know and we are still best friends right?"

"No we're clearly not, I know you must have a hand in Roderick rejecting me" Naya uttered in disbelief.

Bella and her have been friends for years now and she dares do this to her.

"Not really, he came to me telling me the moment he found out you were mates"

"I saw reasons with him why he should not be with you, you're weak" Bella deadpanned as Naya scoffed in disbelief.

"I can't believe that you could do such" Naya muttered, Bella literally destroyed her life, she's the one behind it all.

"I did what I had to, I'm sorry Naya, besides you will get over it soon, hmm" she says assuringly, moving forward to hug Naya.

"Don't touch me," Naya yelled.

"Just get out of my life Bella, I promise you, you would pay for this" Naya swore in anger.

"There's nothing that can…" Bella never got to finish her statement as an arrow came flying in the air, piercing through her heart.

Naya gasped in horror as she stood right in front of Bella who spat out blood, some of the droplets falling on Naya's face.

Naya stood in shock as Bella fell on the ground with a thud, stone dead.

Where the hell did the arrow come from?

Before she could say anything else, arrows began flying from different angles hitting whoever was unfortunate as they died instantly.

Naya stood unmoving as an arrow came flying towards her direction, she could not move an inch, just before the arrow could meet her, someone had pushed her to the ground.